2023 Texas Adventure – The Alamo

Part four of my Texas Adventure blog post will be all about The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. I started out the trip with three key goals: spend time with my cousin, visit a city on the Gulf Coast, and see The Alamo. The first I accomplished during my time in Conroe (see part one), the second I accomplished by spending time in Galveston (see part two), and the third was accomplished on the second day of my stay in San Antonio.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I got to the Alamo – a lot of famous places end up being a tad disappointing – we build them up in our imaginations and through photos to be bigger than life, when in reality, they sometimes are much smaller and less “grand” than we expected. I was pleasantly surprised at the Alamo. Yeah – it was not the big mission and battlefield I imagined it to be – it was a small area right smack dab in the middle of downtown San Antonio. But, it was VERY interesting and a well maintained attraction. I spent quite a bit of time wandering through the various exhibits in the church, the courtyard, and the museum. I sat in the courtyard just enjoying the day and the chance to be in a quiet, peaceful garden for a while. It was very nice and I really enjoyed my time there.

The entrance to the church is free. HOWEVER, you do need to register on the Alamo’s website ahead of time to book a time to go through it. Click here for the website. They only allow 100 people at a time and during peak seasons, this can be difficult if they didn’t have timed entries. You can see just about everything for the free entrance and spend as much time as you like. You can also purchase either a headset for a narrated tour or a guided tour. I paid for the headset, but honestly, didn’t really use it. There is a lot of ways to get the information — I listened to a couple of the stops, but found it wasn’t any more helpful than doing it on my own. I did, however, hear some of what one group with a guide was being told and found THAT interesting, so I might have enjoyed that – although, I do like to go at my own pace. There is also a separate fee to go through the museum which houses many collections of artifacts and historical pieces – I did go through it and found it to be interesting. If you like that sort of thing, I recommend it.

From the website: “Established in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the former mission now known as the Alamo has been a crossroads of history. Having existed under five flags of independent nations and served as a garrison for five different armies, the Alamo has a rich history and a heritage to inspire. Best known as the site of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, the rest of the 300 year history is vital to understanding why the Battle happened and its importance.”

It felt weird to be inside such a historical site and look out over the walls to see a modern city looming all around it. the city skyline can be seen in the background of several of the following photos from the entrance area and inside the Alamo compound.

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The castle-like building in the background is the Emily Morgan Hotel. Built in 1924 by architect Ralph Cameron, The Emily Morgan Hotel was originally constructed to be the Medical Arts Building on the Alamo Plaza. It became the hotel it is today in 1984 and is said to be haunted!!!

You’ll read more about Emily Morgan later in this post when you see a statue of her in the “Heroes of the Alamo” photos.

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Inside the Collections Museum is a large display showing the original grounds and buildings. There is a recording that goes through the history of events at the mission up to and including the battle.

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The next few photos are the Statues of Heroes located in a special courtyard – except the first three, which are located near and at the entrance to the property. I was struck by the women they included as “heroes” of the Alamo!

NOTE: All the commentary under each “hero” is directly taken from the Alamo website.

José Toribio Losoya by William Easley

José Toribio Losoya was born in the Alamo barrio on April 11, 1808, only to pass away less than three decades later during the Battle of 1836 defending the Alamo. The family’s two-room stone house, an old Indian dwelling that had been deeded to them, was on the Plaza de Valero near the southwest corner of the mission compound.

David Crockett by George Lundeen

David Crockett was a frontiersman who became a well-known politician and humorist in early 19th century America. After losing his re-election bid in 1835, Crockett vowed to go to Texas where he expected to revive his political career. Instead, David Crockett became one of the best-known Alamo heroes.

Susannah Dickinson & Angelina Dickinson by Bruce Greene

Susannah Dickinson and her daughter, Angelina Dickinson, moved to Béxar with her husband, Almeron, in February 1836. During the Battle of the Alamo, Susanna and Angelina took shelter in the sacristy of the church. After the battle, and Almeron’s death, they were freed to spread the word of what had happened at the Alamo. Susannah later remarried and ran a boarding house until her death in 1883.

Emily West Morgan by Eddie Dixon

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Emily West was a free woman of mixed race who became one of Texas’ best-known legends. On April 16, 1836, the Mexican Army captured West and other New Washington, TX residents. Legend would later credit West with sending word of San Anna’s whereabouts to Houston and then entertaining the Mexican general, distracting him enough that Houston’s troops swept in at San Jacinto and defeated the Mexican army.

James Bowie by Deborah Fellows

A natural leader, James Bowie played an important role in the Texas Revolution. Bowie and Travis served as co-commanders of the Alamo until Bowie became so ill that he was confined to his sickbed, where he was killed in the famous battle on March 6, 1836.

John William Smith,’El Colorado’ by Chris Navarro

The very first Mayor of San Antonio under the Republic of Texas, John William Smith, played an important role in early Texas history. In December 1835, he helped guide the Texans through the streets during the Battle of Béxar. Smith later carried Travis’ messages out of the Alamo to the colonies east in 1836 and he served in the Texan Army at the Battle of San Jacinto.

William Barret Travis by Glenna Goodacre

William Barret Travis accomplished much before his death at the Alamo in 1836. He taught school, edited a newspaper, and passed the bar all before turning 21 years-old. Travis arrived at the Alamo in February 1836. His definitive cry, “Victory or Death,” ensured that Texans remembered the Alamo.

Hendrick Arnold by Ed Dwight

Hendrick Arnold, a free man of mixed race, emigrated from Mississippi in 1826, settling in Stephen F.  Austin’s Colony on the Brazos River. He played a key role in the Texas Revolution as a guide and spy for the Texian Army. On December 5, 1835, the Texians attacked San Antonio in what became known as the Battle of Béxar. Arnold guided Colonel Ben Milam’s troops. After four days of intense fighting, the Mexican Army surrendered San Antonio to the Texians. Arnold continued his support of the Texas Revolution as a member of Deaf Smith’s spy company in the Battle of San Jacinto.

Juan Nepomuceno Seguin by Enrique “Kiko” Guerra

Born to a prominent San Antonio family, Juan Seguin led a life of service to his community. He was both a soldier and politician, becoming Mayor of San Antonio in 1841. During the Texan Revolution, Seguin supported independence. He served as an Alamo courier, and valiantly led his fellow Tejanos as a Captain at the Battle of San Jacinto. After accepting the formal surrender of Mexican forces at San Antonio, Seguin oversaw the burial ceremonies for the Alamo defenders’ ashes.

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All in all, it was a lovely morning…..very interesting and enjoyable. I’m glad I included it in my Texas Adventure – and not just so I could scratch it off on the Adventure Awaits banner on my adventure wall in my den! hahaha

After I left the Alamo, I headed towards Austin to visit the Capital of Texas. I’ll write about that side trip in my next post.